Staff: Mentor

What is wrong with these people? If we condone this, what kind of message are we sending?

"I daydream during school of me being in the cage with everybody watching me on TV," said Larry Swinehearts Jr.

That's just sick. He's 14 years old.

Experts say the pint-size version of the sport is growing because ultimate fighting is everywhere now, on cable television, pay-per-view, even on the big screen in the movie "Never Back Down."

The sport is undeniably dangerous for adult fighters facing brain damage, broken bones and even death. Doctors say they're now starting to see injuries in young fighters that can impact their growth.

"I think it's dangerous from a physical standpoint," said Dr. Lisa Thorton, a pediatrician with the University of Chicago Hospitals. "It can make significant injuries to the neck and bones, and if they're being taught that fighting is a way to solve problems that is obviously very negative for any child."

This is ridiculous. There are other ways to teach your kids discipline and self-respect.

Also, this is even different than sending your kids to a martial arts class. There you are taught self-defense and discipline. If you are going to teach kids self-defense, then you also have to teach them never to start a fight. Otherwise your not teaching them self-defense. Your teaching them to use their fighting skills for offensive purposes, which is very bad.

Aren't these parents inadvertently teaching their children that starting fights is worthy of praise and fame by sending them to these classes?